HC Deb 23 July 1996 vol 282 cc291-3W
Mr. Alan Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the numbers of(a) family credit and (b) disability working allowance claimants who are in receipt of the maximum benefit, broken down by (i) gender, (ii) marital status and (iii) whether self-employed or employed. [39110]

Mr. Roger Evans

The available information is set out in the table.

Numbers of family credit and disability working allowance claimants receiving maximum awards
Family type Family credit Disability working allowance
All cases 193,000 8,076
Male main earner1 66,000
Numbers of family credit and disability working allowance claimants receiving maximum awards
Family type Family credit Disability working allowance
Female main earner1 127,000
Male claimant 4,862
Female claimant 3,214
Couples (married and unmarried) 88,000 3,057
Lone parents/single claimants 105,000 5,019
Self-employed 44,000 1,577
Employed 149,000 6,499

Notes:

1. In Family Credit claims from couples, the claim is made by the mother in the family. Figures on gender are therefore provided by main earner.

Sources:

1. Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards (October 1995)— figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

2. Disability Working Allowance 100 per cent. count (January 1996).

Mr. Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many new claims were made during 1994–95 for(a) sickness benefit, (b) invalidity benefit, (c) severe disablement allowance and (d) income support where a disability premium is payable on incapacity grounds; [39114]

(2) how many new claims were made during 1995–96 for (a) short-term incapacity benefit, (b) long-term incapacity benefit, (c) severe disablement allowance and (d) income support where a disability premium is payable on incapacity grounds. [39113]

Mr. Burt

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

Benefit Claims received
1994–95 1995–96
Sickness/Invalidity Benefit 11,157,000
Incapacity Benefit 11,054,000
Severe Disablement Allowance 183,000 196,000
Income Support with disability premium 2647,000 2737,000

Sources:

1 Benefits Agency Central Data Unit. Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

25 per cent. sample from Income Support Computer System (ICIS). The figures represent numbers in receipt of disability premium at end of August 1994 and August 1995. It is not possible to identify separately those receiving disability premium on grounds of incapacity for work.

Mr. Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the numbers of people currently receiving(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit by eligibility for (i) the carer premium, (ii) the lone parent premium and (iii) the disability premium. [39046]

Mr. Roger Evans

The available information is set out in the tables.

Income support recipients by premium in Great Britain May 1995
Thousands
Premium type Income support recipients
Carer 138
Disability 739
Lone parent 1,056

Source:

Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry May 1995.

Note:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

Housing benefit/council tax benefit recipients by premium, Great Britain—May 1995
Thousands
Premium type Housing benefit recipients Council tax benefit recipients
Carer 78 102
Disability 639 700
Lone parent 896 961

Source:

Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries with and without income support taken at the end of May 1995.

Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry May 1995.

Notes:

1The figures given refer to the number of benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.

2. The figures include overlaps because most people receive both housing benefit and council tax benefit.

3. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

4. Second adult rebate cases are not included.